Sneakerheads Reveal 2017’s Best Brands Delivering Top-Notch Quality

Footwear News caught up with some prominent sneakerheads to get their take on the best brands of 2017. For FN’s sneaker issue (which debuted Nov. 6), we heard from Yu-Ming Wu and Mike Camargo about which brands are delivering the best quality and who’s up next in the sneaker world.
Mike “Upscale Vandal” Camargo
Consultant, Upscale Vandal Group
Mike “Upscale Vandal” Camargo
Best Place to Buy Kicks:
“Social Status. They have multiple doors in areas that there isn’t so much hype, so I’m able to get in easy.”
Brands With Surprising Quality Drops:
“Karhu. I started wearing that brand maybe last year. Yeezy [Kanye West] started wearing them after me, and everybody jumped on them then. The quality of their shoes is amazing. I wear one model, the Fusion 2.0. It’s comfortable, and for the price, you get a lot of paneling and good materials.”
Brand With the Most Promising Future:
“Jordan Brand, and the reason is because of Frank Cooker and Gemo Wong — they’re in charge of all the special interests. With their understanding of the culture and being able to tap in directly to the culture, the more leeway Jordan gives them, the more they can grow. They understand the landscape of what’s cool more than anybody.”
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